Process for removing copper from other metals.



R. R. MORENO. PROCESS FOR REMOVING COPPER PROM OTHER METALS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPTA, 1911.

Patented Jan. 14, 1913.

wvwwwv ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RAUL R. MORENO, OF ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

from the bore of guns by dissolving the same by an ammoniacal solution in the presence of air, thereby producing ammoniacal oxid of copper. v

' The principal object Vof my invention is to provide for quickly and effectively dissolving and removing from the bore of guns the fouling of copper which adheres more particularly to the compression slopes and rilied parts, without causing the sharp angles of said rifled parts to be worn or rounded, or any steel part of the bore to be removed and thereby vary in the slightest degree the true bore of the gun.

Before acceptance of guns they must be subjected to proof firing tests with charges of progressively increasing size. In these tests copper bands of the projectiles or `cartridges used become abraded or scraped by the compression slopes and ried parts,

l till such parts become fouled by a very adherent deposit or coating of copper which increases with thenumber of rounds fired. In order to secure a satisfactory result this coating must be removed without injury to the rifled parts or any variation in the bore. In my process this copper coating is dissolved and reduced to ammoniacal oXid of copper in order 4to prepare the bore for a searchlight inspection which is intended to detect the presence of tears or holes which may appear in the bore after the tiring tests. The bore of the gun is then subjected to a micrometer test, by means of which measurements are taken with an approximation of0.0005 of an inchl These measurements are recorded to be compared with measurements taken before the firing tests. From Specification of Letters Patent. f

Patented Jan. 14, V19.13.

Application led September 1, 1911. Serial No. 647,297.

removingy the above mentioned copper de posit from the bore of guns and one of 'the methods consists in introducing lead or leather plugs into the bore of the gun, such plugs having their peripheral surfaces adapted to conform to the rifiing, a solution of powdered emery and oil being introduced with the plugs, which are moved along the bore of the gun to grind away the copper deposit. This method, however, is tedious and unsatisfactory, since it results in wear and rounding of the shar corners of the grooves and rifled parts. lectrolysis has also been employed for removing the copper coating, but this method is not efiicient, inasmuch as the copper coating does not extend uniformly throughout the 'length of the bore and a greater duration of the electric current upon a part of the bore not coated will result in an attack of the current upon the basic structure ofthe gun barrel, causing removal o f part of the steel and producing defects which will be quite evident when the gun is afterward measured by means of a suitable micrometer, thus resulting in the total rejection of a .gun which otherwise would have remained in perfect condition.

In carrying out my process I subject the bore of a un which has been fouled with copper to t e joint actionof anammoniacal solution and oxygen or air. I have foundin practice that ammoniacal liquor or gas is much more effect-ive and quicker in action when commingled with air to. produce the desired dissolving and oxidizingr'eifect, and

reduce copper deposits or coatlngs lto ammoniacal oxid of copper. I take care, there fore, t Sdispose the gun to be cleaned', n a hori ontal posit-ion, then close both; ends with covers, one cover being provided'with a supply pipe for "ammoniacal solution and a plug for admitting and dschargingai-r,

. tional view Iof a gun mounted to horizontally repose on a pair of trusses with means for introducing the ammoniacal solutionl into the bore of the gun. Fig. 2 represents a view looking at the muzzle end of the gun. Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on the line 3,-3 of Fi .1.

Referring to the views, I provi e two or` more trusses 10 on which a gun y11 is horizontally mounted to repose, the gun "having ends'12 and 13 and a bore 14 formed within the barrel 15. A rod 16, having threaded ends 17 ispassed through the bore of the gun and to the ends are applied covers 18, 19, which are adapted to'close the bore 14 of the gun and they are retained in position by thumb nuts 20 engaging the screw threaded ends lof the rod 16 and abutting against Lthe covers. The covers 18,19 are preferably provided with flexible rubber disks 21 which tend to eliciently close the bore 14 of the gun 11. v

, An elevatedtank 22 has a pipe 23 connected therewith, an end of the said pipe being extended through an aperture ,inthe cover 19, and the said pipe being provided with a valve 24. The cover 19 is also provided with a second aperture 3 into which is removably tted a plug 25, said aperture, when the plug is removed therefrom, serving to permit the entrance of air into the bore 14, or to permit the escape of air when liquid is flowing into the bore. The tank 22 `is lled with ammoniacal solution, and by opening the valve 24 and removing the plug 25, said solution will low by gravity into 1 the bore 14 of the gun.` Thepipe 23 is preferably connected by a swivel joint 26 with the -cover 19 so as `to permit the gun to be turned'. rIhe ammoniacal solution is allowed to flow into the bore until it flows out through the hole 3, when the plug 25 is in-v serted. -The boreI will now be half filled with vthe solution in a horizontal bodyand the space above will be filled with air.

As a solvent for vthe copper fouling I may use a solution of animona in water, or a solution of methylamin in water. Methylamin is a colorless, gas (NH2CH3) having a strong ammoniacal odor and lresembling ammonia in many ofits reactions. The

term ammoniacal solution used in this description is intended to ,include both .a solution of ammonia l and a solution of methylamin in water. The gun, after being filled half full of solvent solution is allowed to rest a few hours, after which it is turned one hundred and eighty degrees and again allowed to rest approximately the same length of time, thus treating the entire surface of ythe bore. The commingled air and ammonia act rapidly to reduce the copper to an animoniaeal oxid of copper which may be readily wiped or brushed out of the bore. This oxid of copper does not aect the steel, and therefore it will free the compression slopes and riiied part from copper without injury, and permit the operator to see whether any tears or holes have been made in these parts due to proof-firing. The treatment with ammonia solution may be extended through a shorter or longer period to remove the copper as it will not in any VWay effect the bore, inasmuch as the ammonia will not attack the steel, but on the xcontrary its presence will prevent oxidation of the exposed steel parts. The strength of the copper solution used will be dependent upon the grade of copper and the thickness of coating or deposit.

From the foregoing description, it will be seenthat an eilicient process for removing copper coating or deposit is provided and which, aside from performing the desired purpose, will not aHect the sharp corners of the riing grooves in the bore and will not increase lthe diameter of the bore of the gun, any variations of this kind being due to a deformation of the gun.

It is to be .noted that my process involves 1 practically no labor and no expense for a pumpv or other machinery for applying the solvent solution, and is therefore quite economical. Several guns can lbe treated at the same time under the supervision of one i man.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The process of removing copper deposit or coating from the bore of a gun, which consists in disposing the gun horizontally, partly filling the bore throughout its length with ammoniacal solution, while theremaining space is filled with air, allowing the gun to remain at rest subject to the action of ammonia and oxygen, and

.after ,a suitable interval turning the gun to bringthe solution into contact with the remaining surface of the bore whereby the i copper is converted into ammoniacal 'oxid of copper. l

,2. The process of removing copper deposit or coating from 'the bore of a gun,

which consists in disposing the gun hori- 125 zontally, closing the ends, but providing a vent at approximately the height of onehalf the diameter of the bore for admitting or discharging air7 then supplying the am- In testimony whereof I aix my signature moniacal solution till it appears at the vent, in presence of two witnesses.

then closing the vent and allowing a period of rest subject to the action of ammonia and RAUL R. MORENO. oxygen, and turning the gun to bring the solution `into Contact with the remaining Vitnesses:

surface of the bore, whereby ythe copper is LUIS F. ORLANDING,

converted into ammoniacal oxid of. coppers DALMIRO SAENZ. 

